Eyeglasses having readily removable lenses

ABSTRACT

Eyeglasses having a lens carrier and lens means detachably secured to the lens carrier. The lens means and lens carrier are provided with engaging means of complementary configuration to permit interchangeability of lenses of varying sizes and shapes with lens carriers of diverse style and ornamentation.

United States Patent [191 Wick [54] EYEGLASSES HAVING READILY REMOVABLELENSES [76] Inventor: Mary Irene Wick, 7533 Parkdale Drive, Clayton, Mo.63105 [22] Filed: March 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 122,839

[52] U.S. Cl. ..35l/l06, 351/110, 351/149 [51] Int. Cl. ..G02c 1/02 [58]Field of Search ..35l/41,110,104109, 351/140,151, 60, 61,149

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 756,228 4/1904 Fox ..351/1491,207,924 12/1916 Johnston ..351/149 3,394,980 7/1968 Dym ..35l/149 X3,471,222 10/1969 Eisler ..351/106 X 51 Jan.9, 1973 3,475,083 10/1969Gitlinetal ..35l/4l 2,091,296 8/1937 Williams ....35l/l06 2,880,6494/1959 Eisler ..35l/61 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 984,493 2/1965Great Britain ..35 1/108 Primary Examiner-David Schonberg AssistantExaminer-John W. Leonard Attorney-John D. Pope, Ill

[57] ABSTRACT Eyeglasses having a lens carrier and lens means detachablysecured to the lens carrier. The lens means and lens carrier areprovided with engaging means of complementary configuration to permitinterchangeability of lenses of varying sizes and shapes with lenscarriers of diverse style and ornamentation.

14 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures Pmmtnm 9197a 3.709.587

SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR MARY IRENE WICK B go n P xnfi ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAN 9 I973 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG.9 FIG. IO

INYENTOR MARY IRENE WICK ATTORNEY EYEGLASSES HAVING READILY REMOVABLELENSES This invention is directed to new and useful improvements ineyeglasses and more particularly to interchangeable eyeglass lenses andframes.

Eyeglass lenses that are supported by an eyeglass frame must generallybe ground at the periphery thereof in order to fit the lenses to theframe. The fitted lens is then secured to the frame to form an integraland usually permanent combination. Thus, except for a change of eyeglassprescription or replacement of a broken lens, the initially fittedlenses and frames form a non-variable combination.

While eyeglasses serve mainly to correct a defect in vision or in thecase of tinted glasses to cut down the glare of the sun, there exists aseemingly infinite variety of eyeglass styles and shapes. It is quitecommon to design eyeglasses to fit a mood or special occasion inaccordance with one s individual taste and fashion concepts.Consequently it can be desirable to possess more than one pair ofeyeglasses, with each pair being styled differently. Nevertheless, dueto the expense of eyeglasses many eyeglass users must limit themselvesto one pair.

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted theprovision of a novel eyeglass structure permitting lenses of varyingsizes and shapes to be interchangeable with frames of diverse style andornamentation; a novel eyeglass lens having a viewing portion and asupport appendage; and a novel lens carrier having novel means fordetachably engaging and holding an eyeglass lens. Other objects andfeatures will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The present invention contemplates novel means for interchangingeyeglass lenses with eyeglass frames and vice versa. In one embodimentof the invention a pair of eyeglasses are provided with a lens having aviewing portion and an appendage that extends from a peripheral zone ofthe viewing portion. The eyeglasses further include a lens carrierhaving a slot formed to engage the appendage in order to hold the lensin position on the carrier. Spring restrained detent means are providedon engaging portions of the appendage and lens carrier to detachablysecure the lens in the carrier slot. Eyeglass lenses of varying size andshape are provided with a standard size appendage and frames of diversestyle and ornamentation are provided with a standard size carrier slot.A variety of frames and lenses can thereby be interchanged.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which two of various possibleembodiments of the invention are illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of eyeglasses incorporating one embodimentof the present invention, the lens car- FIG. 7 is a front elevation of alens means;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a lens means constructed of two pieces;

FIG. 10 is another variation of the lens means of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the lens means of FIG.7;

FIG. 12 is another embodiment of eyeglasses incorporating the presentinvention; and

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 11.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of the presentinvention, eyeglasses incorporating one embodiment thereof are generallyindicated by reference number 10. Eyeglasses 10 comprise a pair of lensmeans l2, 14, held in place by a support means 16. Support means 16 canbe formed of any suitable material such as plastic and includes anelongated lens carrier 18 and a pair of oppositely disposed templepieces 20, 22. Temple pieces 20, 22, are hingedly secured to the freeends of carrier 18 by hinges 24, 26, respectively. As lens means l2, 14,are of substantially similar structure, description thereof will beconfined to lens means 12.

Lens means 12, as seen most clearly in FIG. 7, in-

cludes a transparent viewing portion 28 made of any suitable materialsuch as glass or plastic. Lens means 12 also includes an appendage 30extending from a peripheral zone 32 of viewing portion 28. Appendage 30includes opposite side portions 34, 36, which define the extent ofperipheral Zone 32. Viewing portion 28 includes an exposed perimeter 38extending from side portion 34 to side portion 36 of appendage 30.Appendage 30 further includes longitudinal detent grooves 40 and sidedetent notches 42, 44. Appendage 30 and viewing portion 28 are formed asone piece but can be made of two pieces as seen in FIG. 9, wherein atransparent viewing portion 46 is seated upon an appendage 48 formed ofany suitable resilient material not necessarily transparent. Viewingportion 46 includes a stublike appendage 50 seated intermediateresilient gripping jaws 52, 54, provided on appendage 48. Under thisarrangement viewing portion 46 can be detachably secured to appendage 48or adhesively bonded thereto.

Similarly, FIG. 10 illustrates another variation of a two-piece lensmeans wherein a viewing portion 56 is secured to an appendage 58.Viewing portion 56 includes mounting grooves 60 in engagement with jawteeth 62 of appendage 58. If desired, viewing portion 56 can bedetachable from appendage 58.

Lens carrier 18 comprises a V-shaped bridge portion 64 and a pair ofoppositely disposed lens support arms 66, 68, formed at the mouth ofbridge portion 64 and extending therefrom in substantially oppositedirections. Lens support arms 66, 68, each include means for engaginglens appendage 30, such as slots or openings 70, 72, for insertion ofsaid appendage. As slots 70, 72, are of substantially similar structure,description thereof will be confined to slot 70.

As seen in FIG. 5, slot includes opposed biasing springs 74, 76,provided therein and secured to carrier 18 in any suitable manner. Forinstance, spring holes 78 are formed in carrier 18 at the corners ofslot 70 and a bent portion 80 is provided at the opposite ends ofsprings 74, 76. Bent portions 80 resiliently bear against the walls ofspring holes 78 to hold said springs in position.

Slot 70 further includes a detent nipple 82 provided at one end thereofin a hole 84 formed in arm 66. Nipple 82 includes a tip portion 86secured to a trunk portion 88 disposed in hole 84. Hole 84 is providedwith an end plug 94 having a through opening 90 of larger dimension thantip 86. A coil spring 92 provided in hole 84 urges nipple 82 towardthrough opening 90. Under this arrangement trunk portion 88 abuts plug94 to limit the projection of tip portion 86 from through opening 90.

If desired, an opposing detent nipple 96 can be rigidly formed at theopposite end of slot 70 or biasing structure similar to that associatedwith nipple 82 can be provided therefor.

A slot 98 which is a variation of slot 70 is shown in FIG. 6. Slot 98 isopen on one side and includes only one detent spring 100 secured tocarrier 18 across the open side in the manner previously described forsecuring springs 74, 76, within slot 70. Slot 98 further includesopposing detent nipples 82 and 96.

In use, lens means 12 is detachably secured to carrier 18 by insertingappendage 30 in slot 70 intermediate biasing springs 74, 76, and detentnipples 82, 96. Longitudinal detent grooves 40 of appendage 30 areformed to engage biasing springs 74, 76, and side detent notches 42, 44,are formed to accommodate nipples 82, 96, to detachably secure lensmeans 12 within slot 70. Under this arrangement exposed perimeter 38 oflens means 12 is spaced from lens carrier 18 and viewing portion 28 issupported on carrier 18 solely at appendage 30. Accordingly, lens means12 can be removed from carrier slot 70 by merely grasping viewingportion 28 and pulling it outwardly from slot 70 to overcome the detentforce between springs 74, 76, nipples 82, 96, and appendage 30.

A further embodiment of eyeglasses incorporating the present inventionis shown in FIG. 12 and generally referred to by reference number 102.

Eyeglasses 102 comprise a lens carrier 104 having a V-shaped bridgeportion 106. Bridge portion 106 includes legs 108, 110, provided withidentical slots 70. Eyeglasses 102 further include a pair of lens means112, 114, having oppositely disposed similar appendages 116, 118, whichappendages have a notch and groove structure (not shown) substantiallycorresponding to grooves 40, and notches 42, 44, of the previouslydescribed appendage 30. Eyeglasses 102 further include oppositelydisposed temple pieces 120 provided at appendages 118. Temple piece 120includes a slot piece 124 having a slot 70. Temple piece 120 furtherincludes an elongated stem piece 126 hingedly secured by a hinge 128 toslot piece 124.

In use, lens means 112, 114, are detachably secured at appendages 116,118, to the slots 70 in bridge portion 106 and temple pieces 120.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that lenses of varyingsizes and shapes can each be provided with a standard appendage. It willbe further apparent that lens carriers of diverse style andornamentation can be provided with standard size carrier slots toaccommodate the lens appendages. Interchangeability of lenses and framesis thus accomplished.

In accordance with the second embodiment, temple pieces of varying styleand ornamentation can also be provided with standard size carrier slots.In this manner lenses of varying size and shape can be easily andeconomically interchanged with frames of diverse styling andornamentation. For further economy the lens carrier and temple pieces ofthe first embodiment can be molded as one piece wherein the templepieces are formed as integral elongations of the lens carrier. In theevent that a particular lens and carrier combination are preferred aboveall others the lenses can be permanently secured to the carrier byproviding a suitable bonding adhesive in the area of the appendage andslot. If desired, the lens carrier and temple pieces can be formed of atransparent plastic material in a simple standard design. The appearanceof the standard lens carrier might then be varied by attaching in aknown manner a variety of ornamental accessories thereto. Theaccessories while adding a decorative appearance to the glasses alsoprovide a cosmetic effect for the user. In the case of detachableornamental accessories, the decorative appearance of a single lenscarrier could be varied at will according to the immediate dictates ofthe user.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. An eyeglass comprising at least one lens means having a lens viewingportion with an appendage of a first chosen dimension extending from aperipheral zone of said viewing portion and support means for said lensmeans including a first lens carrier having a slot of a second chosendimension into which said appendage is disposed, said appendage having alongitudinal detent groove therein, said first lens carrier includingdeflectable resilient retaining means confined within said carrier fordetachably holding said appendage in fixed position in said slot, saidretaining means including an elongated detent spring protruding intosaid slot and arranged to deflectively retract upon disposition of saidappendage in said slotsuch that said appendage is detentively retainedin said slot by resilient expansion of said detent spring into saiddetent groove in said appendage.

2. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 1 wherein that a second lens means,having a second appendage of said first chosen dimension can beinterchangeably disposed in said lens carrier slot with said one lensmeans.

3. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 2 wherein said carrier includes acurved V-shaped bridge portion having oppositely disposed depending legsand said slots are formed in the legs of said bridge portion forinsertion of said appendage.

4. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 3, said support means furtherincluding means for maintaining said lens carrier in viewing position,said maintaining means comprising a temple piece having one end securedto said lens means and an opposite free end, said one end of said templepiece including a slot, said lens means including a second appendage inengagement with the slot of said temple piece.

5. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second lens carrier, ofdiffering size and shape than said first lens carrier but having asecond slot of said second chosen dimension, is interchangeable withsaid first lens carrier for accommodating the appendage of said firstlens means in the slot of said second lens carrier.

6. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 5 wherein, said carrier includes acurved V-shaped bridge portion and a pair of oppositely disposed lenssupport arms formed at the mouth of said V and extending away from saidV in substantially opposite directions, said slots being formed in saidoppositely disposed lens support arm.

7. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring is relativelymovable with respect to said slot, disposition of said appendage intosaid slot causing said spring to retract, expansion of said springagainst said detent groove retaining said appendage in said slot.

8. An eyeglass comprising at least one lens means having a lens viewingportion with an appendage of a first dimension extending from aperipheral zone of said viewing portion and support means for said lensmeans including a first lens carrier having a slot of a second chosendimension into which said appendage is disposed, said retaining meansincluding oppositely disposed side portions extending from saidperipheral zone, at least one of said side portions having a detentnotch therein, said first lens carrier including deflectable resilientretaining means confined within said carrier for detachably holding saidappendage in fixed position in said slot, said retaining means includinga detent nipple biased by spring means in said lens carrier andprotruding into said slot and arranged to deflectively retract upondisposition of said appendage in said slot such that said appendage isdetentively retained in said slot by resilient expansion of said detentnipple into said detent notch in said appendage.

9. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 8 wherein a second lens means, havinga second appendage of said first chosen dimension can be interchangeablydisposed in said lens carrier slot with said one lens means.

10. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 9 wherein said carrier includes acurved V-shaped bridge portion having oppositely disposed depending legsand said slots are formed in the legs of said bridge portion forinsertion of said appendage.

11. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 10, said support means furtherincluding means for maintaining said lens carrier in viewing position,said maintaining means comprising a temple piece having one end securedto said lens means and an opposite free end.

12. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 8 wherein a second lens carrier, ofdiffering size and shape than said first lens carrier but having asecond slot of said second chosen dimension, is interchangeable withsaid first lens carrier for accommodating the appendage of said firstlens means in the slot of said second lens carrier.

13. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 12 wherein said carrier includes acurved V-shaped bridge portion and a pair of oppositely disposed lenssupport arms formed at the mouth of said V" and extending away from saidV in substantially opposite directions, said slots being formed in saidoppositely disposed lens support arms.

14. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 8 wherein said detent nipple isrelatively movable with respect to said slot and urged into said slot bya spring such that disposition of said appendage in said slot causessaid nipple to retract, expansion of said spring urging said nipple intoengagement with said detent notch to maintain said appendage in saidslot.

1. An eyeglass comprising at least one lens means having a lens viewingportion with an appendage of a first chosen dimension extending from aperipheral zone of said viewing portion and support means for said lensmeans including a first lens carrier having a slot of a second chosendimension into which said appendage is disposed, said appendage having alongitudinal detent groove therein, said first lens carrier includingdeflectable resilient retaining means confined within said carrier fordetachably holding said appendage in fixed position in said slot, saidretaining means including an elongated detent spring protruding intosaid slot and arranged to deflectively retract upon disposition of saidappendage in said slot such that said appendage is detentively retainedin said slot by resilient expansion of said detent spring into saiddetent groove in said appendage.
 2. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 1wherein that a second lens means, having a second appendage of saidfirst chosen dimension can be interchangeably disposed in said lenscarrier slot with said one lens means.
 3. An eyeglass as claimed inclaim 2 wherein said carrier includes a curved V-shaped bridge portionhaving oppositely disposed depending legs and said slots are formed inthe legs of said bridge portion for insertion of said appendage.
 4. Aneyeglass as claimed in claim 3, said support means further includingmeans for maintaining said lens carrier in viewing position, saidmaintaining means comprising a temple piece having one end secured tosaid lens means and an opposite free end, said one end of said templepiece including a slot, said lens means including a second appendage inengagement with the slot of said temple piece.
 5. An eyeglass as claimedin claim 1 wherein a second lens carrier, of differing size and shapethan said first lens carrier but having a second slot of said secondchosen dimension, is interchangeable with said first lens carrier foraccommodating the appendage of said first lens means in the slot of saidsecond lens carrier.
 6. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 5 wherein, saidcarrier includes a curved V-shaped bridge portion and a pair ofoppositely disposed lens support arms formed at the mouth of said''''V'''' and extending away from said ''''V'''' in substantiallyopposite directions, said slots being formed in said oppositely disposedlens support arm.
 7. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidspring is relatively movable with respect to said slot, disposition ofsaid appendage into said slot causing said spring to retract, expansionof said spring against said detent groove retaining said appendage insaid slot.
 8. An eyeglass comprising at least one lens means having alens viewing portion with an appendage of a first dimension extendingfrom a peripheral zone of said viewing portion and support means forsaid lens means including a first lens carrier having a slot of a secondchosen dimension into which said appendage is disposed, said retainingmeans including oppositely disposed side portions extending from saidperipheral zone, at least one of said side portions having a detentnotch therein, said first lens carrier including deflectable resilientretaining means confined within said carrier for detachably holding saidappendage in fixed position in said slot, said retaining means includinga detent nipple biased by spring Means in said lens carrier andprotruding into said slot and arranged to deflectively retract upondisposition of said appendage in said slot such that said appendage isdetentively retained in said slot by resilient expansion of said detentnipple into said detent notch in said appendage.
 9. An eyeglass asclaimed in claim 8 wherein a second lens means, having a secondappendage of said first chosen dimension can be interchangeably disposedin said lens carrier slot with said one lens means.
 10. An eyeglass asclaimed in claim 9 wherein said carrier includes a curved V-shapedbridge portion having oppositely disposed depending legs and said slotsare formed in the legs of said bridge portion for insertion of saidappendage.
 11. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 10, said support meansfurther including means for maintaining said lens carrier in viewingposition, said maintaining means comprising a temple piece having oneend secured to said lens means and an opposite free end.
 12. An eyeglassas claimed in claim 8 wherein a second lens carrier, of differing sizeand shape than said first lens carrier but having a second slot of saidsecond chosen dimension, is interchangeable with said first lens carrierfor accommodating the appendage of said first lens means in the slot ofsaid second lens carrier.
 13. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 12 whereinsaid carrier includes a curved V-shaped bridge portion and a pair ofoppositely disposed lens support arms formed at the mouth of said''''V'''' and extending away from said ''''V'''' in substantiallyopposite directions, said slots being formed in said oppositely disposedlens support arms.
 14. An eyeglass as claimed in claim 8 wherein saiddetent nipple is relatively movable with respect to said slot and urgedinto said slot by a spring such that disposition of said appendage insaid slot causes said nipple to retract, expansion of said spring urgingsaid nipple into engagement with said detent notch to maintain saidappendage in said slot.